Support rack and bracket for shoes and boots



I. J. A soP SUPPORT RACK AND BRACKET FOR SHOES AND BOOTS Filed March 21, 1967 Feb. 4, 1969 INVENTOR Ivolz I ALLsQP ATTORNEY Feb. 4, 1969 J. ALLSOP SUPPORT RACK AND BRACKET FOR SHOES AND BOOTS Filed March 21, 1967 Sheet v 4 W P H V, mr Q %//&/ V////// m Q m 1 \i7 .5 Q O x F &A/ f {Or v L 1 E A m L A mr mr A m v 2 w m. O Q no mo om me N? m N0 E & .5 a N h :E::: Q 7-5:! :2... M II l g m @m g? m 5 w Feb. 4, 1969 I, AL sop 3,425,564

SUPPORT RACK AND BRACKET FOR. SHOES AND BOOTS Filed March 21. 1967 Sheet 3 of :3

figs 45 3222 L an lull ATTORNEY United States Patent 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Shoe and boot rack for display purposes wherein the shoes and boots and shoe or boot trees can be conveniently arranged and supported for display purposes and for aiding the merchandising and sale as Well as the storage of a plurality of such shoes, boots, trees and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The present invention pertains to the field of rotary supports or racks for shoes and the like as defined in Class 211, Supports, Racks, subclasses 34-38, and Class 12, subclass 120.5, and Class 15, subclass 267.

Description of the prior art The prior art includes the following prior patents: 1,447,145, 1,583,784, 1,769,344, 1,961,870, 2,067,095, 2,973,867, 2,987,750, 3,171,541, 3,210,787.

Some of the differences or advantages that the present invention has over these prior patents is as follows:

The support rack or stand of the present invention is adapted to hold a plurality of automatic boot and shoe trees therein, and wherein the present invention includes a unique bracket construction which serves to assure that the boot and shoe trees will be located in place, whether the boot and shoe trees are empty or full. In addition, the support or stand of the present invention includes a swivel base, and a plurality of shoes and boots and trees can be conveniently and efficiently stored or displayed in such a manner that there will be important savings in time and labor in selling boots and shoes, and wherein the boots and shoes will be displayed in perfect order so as to provide an important sales aid or promotion or advertising unit. In addition, the brackets can be used for shoes as well as boots or only boots, and the present invention is especially suitable as a means of merchandising shoes, and the brackets of the present invention can be used in connection with the swivel support or else the brackets can be used by themselves by attaching the brackets to a stationary wall or the like.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention there is provided a support structure for boots or shoes and trees which provides for maximum accessibility of the articles being merchandised or sold or displayed, and in addition there is provided a bracket construction which permits the shoe and boot trees to be safely and conveniently located in place, where the trees are empty or full, and wherein any of the articles can be readily removed from the device by minimum manual manipulation thereof.

In addition, the present invention is economical to manufacture and efficient in use and rugged in construction as well as being attractive in appearance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view with parts broken away in section showing certain details of the present invention.

Patented Feb. 4, 1969 well surface instead of being used with the swivel support.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Attention is directed to the drawings, and more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, wherein the numeral 70 indicates the stand or rack of the present invention which comprises a horizontally disposed stationary base 71 that has a first plate member 72 adapted to be mounted in a recessed portion '85 thereof. The numeral 73 indicates a retaining plate which is arranged in superimposed relation with respect to the plate 72 and the retainer plate 73 is swivelly or rotatably mounted above the plate 72. The retaining plate 73 has a plurality of openings 74 therein for receiving ball bearings 75. The numeral 77 indicates a second plate member which is arranged in spaced parallel relation above the frame 77, FIG. 2, and a suitable securing element such as a bolt and nut assembly 76 extends through registering apertures or openings in the base 71, plates 72, 73 and 77.

Also, as shown in FIG. 2 there is provided a fitting 78 which may be secured as at 79 to the plate 77, and the fitting 78 includes an upstanding portion 80 which has a threaded interior. The numeral 81 indicates a vertically disposed post or column which has a lower end portion threaded as at 82 for threadedly engaging the interior surface of the fitting 78. The numeral 86 indicates a support member which is mounted on the post 81 and the support member 86 may be rectangular in cross section as shown in the drawings so that there is provided thereon flat faces 83.

As shown in the drawings, there is provided a plurality of spaced apart brackets which are indicated generally by the numeral 84, and the brackets 84 may be secured as at 87 to the faces 83 to the support member 86. Pairs of brackets 84 are adapted to receive and hold their particular automatic boot and shoe trees 30 which have a construction similar to that shown in Patent No. 3,210,- 787, and the trees 30 are adapted to be used for holding or supporting shoes or boots 49.

The automatic boot or shoe trees 30 each include base portions or pieces 31 as well as a frame 34, and the frame 34 has longitudinally extending grooves or recesses 36 for the same purpose as described in prior Patent No. 3,210,787. The boot or shoe trees 30 also include plate members 38 which are fixedly secured to or formed integral with or secured to end portions of the frame 34, and the numeral 43 indicates a suitable handle that is affixed to the member 30. The numeral 45 indicates a heel retainer integral with and which is swivelly connected to each plate member 38, and the heel retainer 45 includes a section or portion 47 for engaging the heel 48 of a boot or shoe 49, FIGS. 1 and 4. The numeral 50 indicates the sole of the shoe, and the numeral 51 indicates the toe of the shoe. The heel retainer 45 further includes portions 52 that terminate in inwardly directed portions 53.

In addition, as shown in the drawings, there is provided for each boot or shoe tree 30 a movable platform 55, and the platform 55 is mounted for movement towards and away from the stationary plate member 38. The numeral 60 indicates a toe retainer which is swivelly connected to each platform 55 and the toe retainer includes a first portion 61, right angularly second portions 62, and the portions 62 terminate in inwardly directed portions 63. The numeral 64 indicates yieldable or resilient means such as rubber or resilient bands, and the resilient bands 64 are directed towards the toe retainers 45 and 60 for urging or biasing the movable platform 55 towards the stationary plate member 38.

It will be noted that each of the devices 30 can accommodate or support a pair of boots or shoes 49 at the same time. In addition, as described in prior Patent No. 3,210,- 787, the devices 30 are automatic in their operation so that the act of placing a boot or shoe in the device automatically adjusts the device to the thickness of the sole such as the sole 50, the thickness of the heel such as the heel 48, and to the proper length, and at the same time that the heel is placed under the heel retainer, the shoe is straightened as the toe is held in position by the toe retaining mechanism and the portions of the shoe near the ball of the foot where the bend comes in since the shoe pushes against the platform 55 as the heel 48 is pushed towards the heel platform or plate 38.

In addition, the heel retainer 45 and toe retainer 60 are arranged and constructed so that the spring members or rubber bands 64 which hold them together, also serve to make the retainers 45 and 60 automatically stand in an upright or perpendicular position until the boot or shoe is placed therein, and then the retainers automatically adjust to the proper height of the sole and heel.

Each of the brackets 84 is adapted to be generally arranged in a horizontally disposed manner, and each bracket 84 includes a projecting arm or extension 97. The brackets 84 have a generally horizontally disposed top surface 90 as well as an elongated lower rib or flange portion 91 which may have a tapered lower edge portion. Each bracket is of generally one-piece integral formation, and there is provided on the upper outer surface or portion of each bracket 84 a lug or projection 92 for a purpose to be later described. The brackets may be made of a suitable material such as plastic, and there is provided or formed on the outer end of the bracket a pair of spaced parallel upwardly extending flange portions or ribs 93 which define a space 94 therebetween, and the space 94 is adapted to snugly receive therein a slight edge portion 17 of the boot or shoe tree 30. The base portion 31 of the frame 34 is generally flat as indicated by the numeral 18, and the flat portion 18 is adapted to selectively bear against or abut a flat surface such as the flat surface 83. The upstanding flanges 93 on the outer end of the bracket 94 have their inner edges or shoulders 95 for selective engagement by the portions 63 of the toe retainer 60, as shown in FIG. 2.

In addition, each bracket 84 includes a widened or slightly enlarged inner end base section 96 which has suitable apertures or openings for the projection therethrough of securing or fastening elements 87.

In the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 the brackets 84 are shown connected to a rotary support member 86. However, it is to be understood that the brackets 84, as shown in FIG. 4, can be attached to a stationary support such as a wall 98 in the room or the like.

As shown in the drawings, the inner or base portion 96 of the brackets 84 are provided with horizontally disposed recessed portions or surfaces 16 in their lower edges, and these recessed portions 16 are defined by downwardly extending lips or flanges 15 on the base portion 96. The recesses 16 are adapted to receive the flange or projection 19 on the adjacent portion of the boot or shoe tree 30.

As shown in the drawings, the boot and shoe tree 30 may be provided with spaced apart openings or cutouts 14 therein, and these can be of a desired shape and location to minimize weight of the parts as well as to provide the necessary configuration to accomplish the desired purposes.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there has been provided a rack or stand for conveniently supporting shoe and boot trees, and in use With the parts as arranged in the drawings, and in particular as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings it is to be noted that a plurality of boot and shoe trees 30 can be conveniently supported between adjacent pairs of brackets 84. The brackets 84 are adapted to have their base portions 96 suitably aflixed to flat surfaces 83 of support member 86, and the brackets may be secured in place in any suitable manner as by means of screws or securing elements 87. The brackets 84 are arranged so that their recessed portion 16 is in a downward position as shown in the drawings.

With the brackets 84 aflixed to the support member 86, and with the support member 86 suitably mounted on the upstanding post 81, it will be seen that a rotary or swivel construction is provided which permits any of the various boots or shoes to be readily moved into a desired position. This swivel action can take place due to the provision of the mechanism shown in detail in the lower portion of FIG. 2, wherein it will be seen that the stationary base 71 of the stand or rack has the plate 72 therein. The retainer 73 with the ball bearing 75 is interposed between the plates 82 and 77, and the plate 77 has the collar 80 connected thereto as at 79. Thus, the entire upper assembly including the support member 86 and holders 30 with shoes or boots thereon can rotate about an axis extending through the bolt 76. In addition, due to the provision of the threaded connection between the lower end of the post 81 and the collar 80 as at 82, the post and support member 86 can be conveniently detached from the base 71 so as to minimize the amount of space that is required for storage or shipment of the device. Thus, the device can be shipped or stored in a knock-down condition, and then when desired the parts can be readily and conveniently assembled.

An important aspect or feature of the present invention is the locking arrangement which serves to temporarily retain or lock the holders or trees 30 in place between the pairs of the brackets 84. This locking mechanism for the holders 30 functions regardless of whether the holders 30 are empty or whether the holders 30 have shoes or boots 49 supported thereon.

With further reference to this locking mechanism, when an empty holder 30 is in place between a pair of brackets 84, the locking action takes place due to the fact that the lip 19 on the base portion 31 of the holder 30 engages the recess 16 behind the bed or skirt 15, and at the same time the portions 63 of the toe retainer 60 abut or engage the shoulders on the flanges 93 as shown in the lower portion of FIG. 2. Due to the resiliency of the rubber bands 64 which urge the platform 55 towards the plate member 38 the portion 63 will be held against the shoulders 95 so that there is a double locking action for the empty holders. This interlocking action consists of the interengagement of the lip 19 with the recess 16 in conjunction with the wedging action of the portion 63 against the shoulders 95. The upwardly extending projections 92 function as cams and provide a fulcrum to help insure that the holders can be readily moved into and out of position with respect to the brackets.

The locking action for the holder 30 when the holder 30 has the shoes or boots 49 is as follows: Again with the shoe holder 30, the lip 19 engages in the recess 16 behind the bed 15, and, in addition, the weight of the shoes or boots is sufficient to maintain the holders in their proper location. In addition, with the holder 30 being empty or full the flanges 93 are arranged so that they provide the space 94 therebetween and the space 94 is of just such a size as to snugly receive therein side portions 17 of the frame 24 so that the flanges 93 prevent any unwanted lateral surfeiting of the holders 30 from their proper location. When it is desired to remove any of the holders from the stand 70, it is only necessary to manually grip the holders, whether they be empty or full of shoes and then by lifting upwardly by a slight manual pressure, the holders more easily move free of engagement with the brackets so that the holders can be removed from the brackets in the desired manner. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 a plurality of the brackets 84 are connected to a swivelly or rotatably mounted support member 86, and such an arrangement is especially suitable for use in commercial establishments, shoe stores, ski shops or the like where a large number of ski boots, regular shoes, boots and the like can be displayed and merchandized in a highly advantageous and convenient manner. However, as shown in FIG. 4, pairs of brackets 84 can be mounted on a stationary structure and for example a plurality of brackets can be suitably affixed to a wall such as the wall 98, and the arrangement of FIG. 4 thus provides a convenient method of mounting or displaying shoes, boots or the like in homes, commercial establishments or other locations.

It is to be understood that the parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes and sizes as desired or required.

It will therefore be seen that there has been provided a convenient display rack or supporting rack which in one form of the invention can be used a rotary display unit for displaying a plurality of boots or shoes or shoe trees such as the shoe trees or holders 30. The arrangement of FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is especially suitable for use in retail establishments or the like so that articles such as boots, shoes or the like may be placed for the most effective display thereof.

The brackets 84 are constructed and arranged so that the parts are properly balanced, and wherein the holders 30 are located in place, whether the holders are empty or full as previously described. When the holder is empty, the retainers 60 engage against the shoulders 95 due to the elastic bands 64 exerting pressure thereon. When the holders 30 are full, that is, when they have shoes or boots therein, the weight of the shoes or boots maintains the lip 19 up in the recess 16 behind the flange 15. The main aspect or feature of the present invention is the construction and use of the brackets 84.

The holders 30 are fully automatic and easy to operate and no adjustments are required. In addition, they are light in weight and compact and will not rust, and there are no parts to get damaged, and, in addition, when ski boots are supported therein, such boots will dry faster because the moisture can escape as it rises upon evaporation. The parts are attractively constructed and designed, and the boots in the device 30 are straightened better by using constant pressure. In addition, the boots do not become loose in the tree as they dry out.

The device 30 will straighten shoes or boots without stretching, and wherein shoes can be freshened and dried so they look and feel like new, and the device 30 automatically adjusts to fit any size or type of shoe such as golf shoes or the like.

With further reference to the rack of the present invention, the brackets 84 are constructed and arranged so that the empty device 30 locks in with the tension of the rubber band 64 upon the front loop. However, when the device 30 is full or has shoes or boots in it the loop or retainer 60 is forward and the shoes or boots are held in place. Thus if the boots are moved on the outside approximately inch, the base of the device 30 drops down and allows the boots to be pulled out. The reverse action takes place when putting boots or shoes in. Also, the parts such as the brackets 84 are arranged or constructed so that the unit centers itself. The base 31 when square or flush against the surface 83 of the post 86, is centered automatically into position and locks when the boots are lowered on the outside thereof.

An important aspect or feature of the present invention is the construction of the brackets 84, although the present invention also includes the overall idea of the swivel base as an important part of the operation, making the entire system valuable and unique. The units are especially convenient for ski shops and the like and the units save much time and labor in selling boots, and in addition the boots are displayed in perfect order, thus increasing the value of the rack as a sales aid and promotion or advertising unit.

In addition, the present invention includes the same type of structure for shoes as well as boots or ski boots, and the present invention provides a unique means for merchandising shoes which will make shoe selling practically self-service.

It is to be noted that with the present invention pairs of spaced apart adjacent brackets 84 cooperate to provide the supports for the boot or shoe trees or holders 30, that is, the holding action or locking action for the holders 30 is accomplished by using at least two of the brackets 84, inasmuch as two of these brackets are necessary to provide the cooperating means for holding therebetween a single holder 30, and each holder 30 is adapted to support a pair of shoes thereon.

In all cases it is to be understood that the particular embodiments of the invention described herein are merely illustrative of the underlying principles involved, and numerous other arrangements, modifications and adaptions may be conceived without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a holder for boots, shoes and the like, at least two brackets secured to a supporting structure, said brackets receiving therebetween said holder for boots, shoes and the like, means for locking said holder in place between the brackets when said holder is empty, and means for locking said holder in place when said holder is full.

2. In a device of the character described, a horizontally disposed base, a first plate afiixed to said base, a second plate above said first plate, a retainer interposed between said plates, and said plates having openings therein, ball bearings in said openings, a securing element extending through said base and plates and retainer, a fitting aflixed to said second plate, a vertically disposed post having its lower end detachably connected to said fitting, a support member mounted on said post, and said support member having a plurality of flat surfaces, a plurality of spaced apart brackets aflixed to the flat surface of said support member, each of said brackets including a wider inner end portion, having a recessed lower edge with a flanged bed adjacent thereto, each bracket further including a tapered lower rib portion, the upper surface of said bracket having an upwardly extending projection thereon spaced inwardly from the outer end thereof, a pair of upwardly extending spaced parallel flanges on the outer end of each bracket.

3. The structure as defined in claim 2, and further including means for locking shoe and boot holders between adjacent pairs of brackets. I

4. The structure as defined in claim 2 wherein pairs of brackets are adapted to receive therebetween holders for boots and shoes, said holders each including a frame having side portions for snugly fitting between the flanges on the outer ends of the brackets, and said holders further including movable platforms having retainers swivelly connected thereto, and said retainers adapted to be resiliently urged into abutting engagement with shoulders on the flanges on the ends of the brackets, and said holders further including a base portion provided with a lip for engaging the recess in the widened portion of the bracket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,001,867 8/1911 Little et a1. 21138 1,533,500 4/1925 Hovda 211-463 X 1,569,365 1/1926 Goldberg 21l163 1,583,784 5/1926 Erickson 21137 3,210,787 10/1965 Allsop 12-1205 CHANCELLOR E. HARRIS, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

